284 SALMON-FISHING 



ought to be facile in the extreme, having neither catch 

 nor multiplicator. With regard to the quantity of line 

 employed in casting, it should not greatly exceed the 

 length of the rod itself. Considering the manner in 

 which it is weighted, and the mode of using it I am 

 about to point out, it is difficult to manage more. 



Having baited his hook, let the angler take his place 

 at the head of the cast or salmon-stream he intends 

 fishing. Immediately on commencing operations, there 

 is a matter of observance to which he must pay par- 

 ticular attention. It forms, in fact, to some extent the 

 secret of the successful worm-fisher, and is embodied 

 in this simple piece of instruction, viz. : Let him draw 

 out with his hand, over and above what he uses in 

 casting, a yard or so of line from off the reel, allowing 

 the same to hang loosely down towards the butt-end of 

 his rod. The intention of this is, that he may afford 

 instant and unresisting compliance with the movements 

 of the fish, on first seizing the bait. Should the least 

 check occur in the running off of the line, the salmon 

 will, in most cases, quit before gorging.* I perceive 



* With regard to the gorging of the worm by salmon, I may here 

 state what fell under the observation of my brother, Captain Stoddart, 

 R.N., in the summer of 1846, while angling on the west coast of Ireland, 

 in the river Ballynahinch, in Galway. During the hot weather which 

 occurred in June, and preceded the long-continued rains of that remark- 

 able season, the streams had become in some places so clear and 

 reduced in size, that (taking the oppressive heat also into consideration), 

 fly-fishing was rendered, at certain periods of the day, a hopeless waste 

 of labour and ingenuity. At the same time, there was no deficiency of 

 salmon, and these were to be distinguished, without difficulty, from the 

 high, rocky banks by which many of the pools are hemmed in. The only 

 legitimate manner in which one or several of them might be captured, 

 was with the worm, and to that bait my brother had recourse. As in 

 many instances, while employing it, he had a distinct view of such fish as 

 chose to approach, during the whole procedure and course of attack, he 



